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American 'idol': Attorney general gives pianist a case of stage fright
By: Nikki Schwab and Tara Palmeri
Washington Examiner
10/19/09 11:00 PM EDT
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| Marcus Johnson had a difficult time tickling the ivories on Monday at the Department of Justice’s domestic violence awareness event because his self-admitted idol, Attorney General Eric Holder, was in the audience. But the pianist started over, with a signal from Holder, and all was well. |
Everyone gets a little choked up sometimes, but over Eric Holder?
Marcus Johnson, who has the No. 4 album on Billboard's jazz chart, slid his fingers a little too quickly on the keyboard Monday when performing the national anthem at the Department of Justice's domestic violence awareness event.
"I'm sorry, I'm so nervous right now because this man is my idol," Johnson said, referring to Holder. "I've been on Billboard ... but I'm going to start over."
With a signal from Holder, Johnson restarted.
This was the jazz great's first performance in front of the attorney general, a man he has long admired.
"When I was in law school and he was appointed deputy general under Janet Reno, it was huge because he was a first," Johnson told Yeas & Nays. "As black students at Georgetown law and business, we felt that he had passed insurmountable obstacles."
Johnson continued to follow Holder's career and glowed when he got the top justice gig.
"When he was named attorney general it was one of the proudest days of my life," Johnson said. "A down-to-earth selfless individual running the Justice Department, imagine that?"
Johnson said a slip-up like that hasn't happened since high school, but playing his own version of "The Star-Spangled Banner" before someone he holds in such high regard gave him a shake.
"I did what I could," said Johnson. "I'm human just like the rest of you all, I'm nervous but I got this, and then I started over."
Johnson recently "Joined the List" -- a number of celebrities who are using their social equity to raise awareness for domestic violence. Among those listed are Kevin Spacey, Wynton Marsalis, Eva Mendes, Faith Hill, Meryl Streep, Ellen DeGeneres, Scarlett Johansson and Joe Torre.
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